Melbourne
farewell to Commonwealth Games
Melbourne:
An Indian rendezvous spell-bound the people of Melbourne
as the song 'Delhi Chalo' (Let's go to Delhi) reverberated
the glittering Cricket Ground, bidding farewell to the 18th
Commonwealth Games. Delhi is the host of the 2010 edition
of the Commonwealth Games. Bright colours of all possible
imagination serenaded the stadium as the Indian performers
that included Indian sports personalities, Bollywood beauties,
artists, singers and dancers descended on the floor. The
sudden splash of colours broke the monotonous blue background
as stadium came alive with the beats of bhangra perfectly
executed by Bollywood stars Rani Mukherjee and Saif Ali
Khan, in a programme aptly titled 'Delhi Dhammal". Former
Miss Universe Lara Dutta and former Miss World Priyanka
Chopra accompanied 'Shera', the mascot of the 2010 Delhi
Commonwealth Games Games as the host of sporting legends
from India that included Sunil Gavaskar, Milkha Singh, Kapil
Dev, Prakash Padukone, P.T. Usha, Anju Bobby George, Michael
Ferreira, Ajit Pal Singh, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Karan
Singh and Satpal took part in a parade bringing with them
the message of peace, friendship and love.
Bollywood reigning queen Aisharwya Rai and debutant Isha
Shravani also performed their act gracefully. Amid a rose
formed by the dancers, Rai performed a dance that represented
the sun while the picture of monuments of India and Delhi
in particular were projected on to the main stage. Shravani
in her trademark acrobatic dance stole the hearts of many
in the audience. The panoramic beauty of India was there
for display as songs and cultural dances moved with the
parade as 800 Indian performers participated in the closing
ceremony. Sonu Nigam, Shiamak Davar, Sunidhi Chauhan and
Shreya Ghoshal sang the theme Delhi Chalo song as Shankar,
Ehsaan and Loy rendered the music on the lyrics penned down
by Gulzar. Earlier in the ceremony, Victorian Premier Steeve
Bracks handed over the Commonwealth Flag to Delhi Chief
Minister Sheila Dikshit. British Prime Minister Tony Blair
was also present during the closing ceremony. Prince Edward
formally closed the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne
that brought to an end of 11 days of competition involving
4,500 athletes. Musical legend John Farnham closing song,
'You're The Voice', triggered a spectacular firework display
citywide the bringing the curtain down to the 2006 edition
of Commonwealth Games as the stadium was lit with the Indian
tricolour.
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